By: Zaffirini  S.B. No. 247
         (In the Senate - Filed November 18, 2016; January 30, 2017,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education;
  May 1, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 2; May 1, 2017, sent
  to printer.)
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 247 By:  Menéndez
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to funding sources for the repayment of certain
  speech-language pathologist and audiologist education loans.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 61.9818, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.9818.  PROGRAM FUNDING. (a)  The program may be
  funded [solely] from:
               (1)  gifts, grants, and donations solicited and
  accepted by the board for the purposes of this subchapter; and
               (2)  a portion of the fees collected under Chapter 51,
  Occupations Code, as determined under Subsection (b).
         (b)  The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation by rule
  may, in consultation with the advisory board established under
  Subchapter C, Chapter 401, Occupations Code, provide that a portion
  of the fees collected under Chapter 51, Occupations Code, from
  persons regulated under Chapter 401, Occupations Code, may be
  allocated to fund the program, provided that the portion is in an
  amount that does not result in an increase in fees paid under
  Chapter 51, Occupations Code, by those persons.
         SECTION 2.  A rule adopted under Section 61.9818(b),
  Education Code, as added by this Act, may not take effect earlier
  than the fiscal year beginning September 1, 2019.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
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